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Ratings: ★★★★★(4.6/5)
Genre: Crime Fiction, Detective Fiction

Book Review:
This bumper volume is a gift for crime fiction enthusiasts, collecting four of Ruth Rendell's classic Inspector Wexford mysteries. ''From Doon with Death'' introduces the unassuming yet brilliant Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford and his partner, Inspector Mike Burden, as they investigate the murder of a seemingly ordinary housewife. ''Some Lie and Some Die'' centers on a rock festival and a gruesome discovery. ''Shake Hands for Ever'' presents Wexford with his most baffling case—a murder with no body, no witnesses, and no apparent motive. ''A Sleeping Life'' involves the mysterious death of a woman whose identity is a puzzle.

Rendell's Wexford novels are the gold standard of British police procedurals. Wexford is a wonderfully drawn character—intelligent, humane, and deeply curious about human nature. The plots are intricately constructed, and the solutions are always satisfying. But what sets Rendell apart is her interest in the psychology of her characters, both the detectives and the suspects. This collection is a perfect introduction to one of the genre's most beloved series.